12 Tips To GoPro Like A Pro - With Matt Rissell

We recently caught up with Rissell who shared some tips on how to get the most out of your GoPro.

CAMERA SETTINGS

1. 1080p Superview - Roughly 80 percent of Rissell’s footage is shot on this setting, which is a step up from 1080p, capturing video at a slightly wider angle than standard HD. 1080p Superview will capture all video at 60fps which is ideal for fast-action shots.

Another advantage to this setting is that your footage can be slowed down when editing on your computer. “The camera won’t play black in slo-motion, but when you make adjustments in post production or use the editing software GoPro provides, you get those slow motion shots everyone seems to like,” Rissell said.

2. 4K – The highest setting you can shoot at, 4K will capture the sharpest images of all the options available on your GoPro. Rissell said one of the benefits of shooting in 4K is that you can resize it to 1080p (standard HD), providing you flexibility in cropping your video.

3. Time-Lapse – When using this setting, you can choose to shoot photos, starting at .5 seconds up to every 10 seconds. The camera will automatically compensate for light, making time-lapse suitable for day or night time shooting.

With GoPro studio, which owners can download for free from the company’s website, editing time-lapse images is a breeze and doesn’t require more advanced or expensive programs such as Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere.

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

4. If you have a smart phone or tablet, simply download the GoPro app to control your camera remotely. The app requires WiFi and can be set up in a few, easy-to-follow steps. “It’s nice to be able to use that instead of having to flip through the tiny LCD screen with the push buttons,” said Rissell. “That can be kind of technical and time-consuming.”

The app even allows you to immediately view footage you just shot on your mobile device or tablet instead of having to wait until you get home.

SHOOT LIKE THE PROS

Rissell, whose work has been seen on the Outdoor Channel and Comcast SportsNet New England, had some simple suggestions for those who may be new to filmmaking:

5. Always shoot more than you need. As Rissell explained, “when you get back home you always wish you had another shot.”

6.Mount it high. Mount it low. Shoot from different angles.

7. Shoot transitional shots which Rissell said can help move the story along.

8. Give your GoPro to others to shoot. This can give your videos an entirely different perspective.

9. Put the camera in places where you could never go.

10. Don’t forget to press record. It sounds simple, but this has happened to Rissell. 11. The easiest way to tell the camera is shooting? The red light is flashing.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP

12. Finally, Rissell said, have fun with the GoPro. And experiment. “I learned this stuff from trial and error,” he told us. “So many people get a GoPro for Christmas and use it a couple of times and aren’t happy with the footage they get. Most of the time, you’re not going to hit the ground running. You’ve got to keep using it.”

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start shooting. If you don’t have a GoPro yet, check out our cameras here. And feel free to share your videos with us on our Facebook page. If we like it, we may feature YOU here on our blog!

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